Dear Gurudeva, 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

Please accept my humble obeisances, 

In our recent conversations regarding the working group at the farm, you kept insisting on asking me: “What is it that you want to do?”. This question has led me to reflect deeply on the balance of spiritual life.

My doubt is the following: What is the correct balance between the service one desires to offer based on one's own motivation, kama (based on gunas and karma) and the service that the spiritual master specifically requires from us?

I understand that acting according to my own inclinations or "passions" to occupy them in Krishna's service seems to be closer to the platform of karma-yoga (offering the results of our nature). On the other hand, strictly doing what the master needs—even if it is not what naturally attracts us—seems to be closer to atmanivedanam or saranagati (full surrender to the mission).

How can we find the perfect balance between these two aspects according to our state of consciousness and spiritual advancement? How can we know when we should follow our inclinations to avoid frustration, and when we should sacrifice them for the direct needs of the Guru's mission?

Thank you for always being there for us, for your endless patience, and for being our constant shelter.

Your servant,

Nikunja Bihari Das.

HpS - Some thoughts, agtSP, that come in response to you questions are that the guru desires us to act with our utmost sincerity on our actual platform. If we are on Karma-misra Bhakti Yoga or Jnana-misra Bhakti yoga or Dhyama misra bhakti yoga, then he will instruct us to act there.

Of course, he gives us a view of higher platforms so that we can have direction, perspective, for the lower platform and motivation for progress.

In some aspects there is only Radha Krsna, no?

Yet, They are expanded only as enhancements to that solitary relationship, not as compromise to the inferior attachments of the Jivas, no?

Gurus, according to their development, will advise us what to do. Sampradaya acharya like Srila Prabhupada. Kanistha, madhyama, uttama adhikari siksa gurus. Prabhupada in his books. Krsna in our heart. Our sincerity and contemplation.

NoI says that devotional service is not a matter of sentimental speculation nor imagined ecstacy, but practical activity in the foreground of spiritual life.

Thank you!

El equilibrio entre la naturaleza personal y la rendición al Guru

Querido Gurudeva,

Todas las glorias sean para Srila Prabhupada,

Por favor acepte mis humildes reverencias.

En nuestras recientes conversaciones sobre el grupo de trabajo en la finca, usted insistía en preguntarme: “¿Qué es lo que tú quieres hacer?”. Esta pregunta me ha llevado a reflexionar profundamente sobre el balance en la vida espiritual.

Mi duda es la siguiente: ¿Cuál es el equilibrio correcto entre el servicio que uno desea ofrecer según su propia motivación, kama (basada en sus gunas y karma) y el servicio que el maestro espiritual requiere específicamente de nosotros?

Entiendo que actuar según mis propias inclinaciones o "pasiones" para ocuparlas en el servicio de Krishna parece estar más cerca de la plataforma del karma-yoga (ofrecer los resultados de nuestra naturaleza). Por otro lado, hacer estrictamente lo que el maestro necesita, incluso si no es lo que nos atrae naturalmente, parece acercarse más al atmanivedanam o sharanagati (rendición total a la misión).

¿Cómo podemos encontrar el balance perfecto entre estos dos aspectos según nuestro estado de conciencia y avance espiritual? ¿Cómo saber cuándo debemos seguir nuestras inclinaciones para no frustrarnos y cuándo debemos sacrificarlas por la necesidad directa de la misión del Guru?

Gracias por estar siempre ahí para nosotros, por su paciencia y por ser nuestro refugio constante.

Su sirviente,

Nikunja Bihari Das.